Golf training accessory

ABSTRACT

A golf training accessory for improving the effectiveness of exercises of sliding a golf club along a guide surface is disclosed. The accessory includes a suitable contact material along with a method of removably attaching the material to a golf club. In use, the contact material rather than the golf club contacts the guide surface. Preferably the method of attachment is a layer of re-useable adhesive. Preferably the contact material is a material that causes a low level of abrasion when it slides against a hard smooth surface. Preferably the contact material is a material that causes low friction when it slides against a hard smooth surface. Preferably the contact material is a material that causes a low level of noise when it slides against a hard smooth surface. Suitable materials may include a soft cloth material such as cotton or felt.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This specification relates to an accessory for improving theeffectiveness of certain golf training devices and golf trainingexercises.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf is a popular game and one that is technically demanding. Learningthe correct technique can lead to significant improvements in a player'sperformance. Various training devices have been invented with the aim ofhelping players to improve their technique. One type of training deviceconsists of a guide for the club, whereby the player slides their clubalong the guide surface and the guide surface ensures that the clubfollows a certain specified path. The guide is usually a hard materialsuch as wood, aluminium or plastic and the guide surface is usuallysmooth. Several such devices have been invented for putting where eitherthe heel or toe of the putter head slides along the guide surface of thedevice. Such devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,717, and my ownprevious invention GB 2 364 922. Some golf professionals suggest using apiece of wood with rectangular cross section as a guide for putting, oreven a wall or skirting board.

One problem with the use of such devices and with such exercises is thatsliding the putter along a hard guide surface is an abrasive action.There can be a significant amount of friction between the putter and theguide surface and so more force is required to move the putter at thedesired speed and acceleration when using the guide compared to whenswinging the putter without the guide. A significant amount of noise canalso be produced by sliding the putter along the guide surface whichcould be distracting for the player. The action of sliding the putteralong the guide may also scratch the surface of the guide. Therefore thephysical effort required by the player as well as the feel and the soundof swinging the putter is different when using the guide compared towhen swinging the putter in a competitive round of golf (when the guidecannot be used). Such training devices and exercises will be moreeffective for training if the experience of swinging the putter whenusing the guide is closer to the experience of swinging the putterwithout the guide in normal play. The same problems also apply to golfswing training devices that provide a guide along which the playerslides a club (such as a wood or iron).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide an accessory that can beremovably attached to a golf club when sliding the club along a guidesurface that will make the sliding action smoother, quieter and lessabrasive.

Accordingly, this invention provides a suitable contact material alongwith a method of removably attaching the material to a golf club. Inuse, the contact material rather than the golf club contacts the guidesurface.

Preferably the method of attachment is a piece of re-useable adhesive.Such material is known and is available widely as a household product.Such material can be removed easily from painted or metal surfaces suchas the head of a golf club and can be re-applied many times. Othermaterial that is sticky but can be removed and re-applied to a paintedor metal surface could also be used.

Preferably the contact material is a material that causes a low level ofabrasion when it slides against a hard smooth surface. Preferably thecontact material is a material that causes low friction when it slidesagainst a hard smooth surface. Preferably the contact material is amaterial that causes a low level of noise when it slides against a hardsmooth surface. Suitable materials may include a soft cloth materialsuch as cotton or felt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

For a clearer understanding of the invention and to show how it may beput into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the accessory;

FIG. 2 shows the accessory in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the cross section view in FIG. 1 the accessory comprises afelt layer 1 which is attached to a layer of re-useable adhesive 3 by athin layer of permanent adhesive 2.

Any shape of the accessory in plan view is possible although either arectangular or square shape is preferred. Any size is possible althoughpreferably the accessory is kept small so that the weight of theaccessory is small and therefore the effect on the balance of the clubof attaching the accessory to the club is small.

FIG. 2 shows the accessory in use during a putting training exercise.The layer of re-useable adhesive 3 is used to attach the accessory tothe putter head 4. The bottom part of the putter shaft 5 is also shown.The guide 6 being used by the player is shown. The shape of the guide 6will vary depending on the actual guide being used (such as GB 2 364922). The felt layer of the accessory 1 contacts the guide surface 7.The felt layer 1 is attached to the re-useable adhesive layer 3 by athin layer of permanent adhesive 2.

There are many different shapes of golf clubs. Even amongst putterdesigns there are a wide variety of shapes. One advantage of thispreferred embodiment of the invention is that it can be attached to manydifferent shapes of club head. It can also be attached to the shaft ofthe golf club which is appropriate if that is the contact point with theguide surface. It is also easy to remove and then re-apply which enablesthe player to use the accessory attached to the club when using theguide during practice and to use the club without the accessory at othertimes.

1. A golf training accessory for use by a golfer when sliding a golf club along a guide surface comprising a suitable contact material to contact the guide surface and a method of removably attaching the material to a golf club.
 2. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 1 where the golf club being used is a putter.
 3. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where the method of attachment to the golf club is a sticky material that can be removed from a painted or metal surface and re-applied many times.
 4. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where the method of attachment to the golf club is a piece of re-useable adhesive.
 5. A golf training accessory as claimed in any preceding claim where the contact material is a material that causes a low level of abrasion when it slides against a hard smooth surface.
 6. A golf training accessory as claimed in any preceding claim where the contact material is a material that causes low friction when it slides against a hard smooth surface.
 7. A golf training accessory as claimed in any preceding claim where the contact material is a material that causes a low level of noise when it slides against a hard smooth surface.
 8. A golf training accessory as claimed in any preceding claim where the contact material is a cloth material such as cotton or felt.
 9. A golf training accessory as claimed in any preceding claim where the contact material is a layer of cloth material such as cotton or felt.
 10. A golf training accessory as claimed in any preceding claim where the method of attachment and the contact material are attached together by a permanent adhesive.
 11. A golf training accessory substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
 12. A method of practising golf technique including putting using the golf training accessory comprising the steps of: mounting the accessory on a golf club; swinging the golf club so that the contact material of the accessory slides along a chosen guide surface. 